To Ularring.

Our final night at Lake Ballard was spent with Tony & Sally,

they were the only others left at this lovely spot.

The sunset would have been quite spectacular apart for the fact

the camera had a flat battery & I just managed to catch the last of it....

after a run back to the van & a quick change!!!!!

As we called into Snake Hill on the way to Lake Ballard 

there was a woman kneeling down at  the base of a tree

at the entrance to the lookout.

So we stopped to investigate as we drove passed heading to Ularring. 

This is what we found.....

She was obviously putting this together.

Well done Jackie Carr

We hope it does!

Two of Mother Natures most compatible colours,

She sure knows what she's doing.....

Then onto Ularring..

Sally had told us there was a storm coming so we called into Ularring Rock 

where we had wanted to camp for the night.

Discretion saw us stop for a coffee, a quick walk to the top for me & then off.

A little rock garden. I would have loved to stay

and waited to see the rain pouring off the rock but...

Another piece of "Rock Art"

Mother Natures version.

The Cairn on the top.

Ularring was where Ernest Giles' Party was reputedly 

attacked by 100 Aboriginals in 1875.

The area was later the site of the first store in the area & 

also a watering and staging post for Cobb & Co.

Oh well next time, it's a great spot for a camp.....

Lake Ballard

You don't see this too often.

We moved onto Lake Ballard,

 a spot we promised to come back to 

and stay a couple of days.

We found a great spot away from a few other campers.

First nights sunset was a bit ordinary....

I was up for a sunrise (what a surprise).

I managed this which is my pick of the trip so far.

Would you believe I had deleted this one.....

But a bit of a fiddle can do wonders!

Then a play with the new lens a bit later,

had the figures floating in a mirage.

And the sky pouring into Lake Ballard.

Leonora,Gwalia & My Big Stick

We did a small amount of shopping in town

and then called into the Visitor Centre.

It's amazing to see what a Lotteries Grant can do.

From there it was onto Gwalia, which we missed out on the Museum

last time as we arrived late on a Sunday.

The first thing that greeted us was this great wheel.

This is the Sons of Gwalia Pit.

Not a big hole in the ground, about 300 mts deep.

Now I had a chat to guy who tells me 

that it goes down another 1500 mts.

 But it is a 15 km. drive in a big spiral to get there...... 

WHOW 

This the mine managers house built by Herbert Hoover.

 Later the 31st. President of the United States.

It is also used as a B & B.this was his room....

Yours for $150 a night.

The Dining Room.

The largest surviving Timber Head Frame in Australia...

Then into the Museum....

This caught my eye !

And this Alison's....

Water Cart Wheels.

I suppose this is the equivalent to a puncture repair now days.

Ever wonder how they used to do the lettering on plans

so neatly ? Well I did & this was how. 

A Coolgardie Safe.

Ray this ones for you......

Wouldn't you like to get your hands on this lot !!

The control for the Steam Winder, an humungous steam driven engine.

Used to haul the buckets up & down the Head Frame.

Some of the old stuff with the open cut behind.

I couldn't resist this tree clinging to life, half way down the mine.

The old State Hotel.

These were set up by the Government to try & stop the "Sly Grog Shops"

The old buildings of Gwalia.

Most of them open.

Nobody seems to steal anything, which is fantastic.

It's great to be able to just walk through this piece of history.

This is inside the shop.

Ever wondered what happened to the water

 that is pumped out of these mines, I have?

The same guy told me it's pumped over there.

So a quick trip over to have a look.

I could see a guy in the Park painting something,

so off I went to investigate.

After a long talk & a demo of his skills, I went to get Alison.

He played 2 of his sold Didge's that a are sold to go overseas.

Then Danny went to get this one...

unfinished  but it sounded better than the other 2.

So after much negotiation,

 I am the proud owner of what Danny assures me will be a great Didge....

and something to finish when I get back.

And then learn how to play it......

Agnew Loop

After a fantastic meal at the Leinster Staff Mess,

which R & S had told us about.

Now at $15 a head "all you can eat"

It's no wonder Richard thought it was good value.

Superb quality food & an unbelievable range.

Hardly surprising there are some BIG Boys up here!

From there we decided to do the Agnew - Leonora Rd.

This appears to be an addition to the "Golden Quest"

that we had done in 2008.

An old Battery & Poppet Head with a pile of old stuff,

all set up over the road from the old Agnew Townsite 

marked the beginning of this glimpse into the past.  

Now there are Rusty Steel characters at strategic historic spots along the way.

Mostly wells ....

I know there is a lot of these story boards,

but please take the time to "double click" on them 

to blow them up & have a read.....

This shot was of a flower we had been looking for

but couldn't find...yet here they are in the Battery Stampers.

The Agnew Hotel...still operating.

From the Verandah.

Now read on.

The Pool at Poison Creek.

May be a painting for Alison ?

Would you believe a swimming pool !!!

Remnants of an old means of transport.

Now we think we are on a big adventure,

but image life here 100 or more years ago!

Then down the road to Leonora....